People in Terra, governing a bizarre little country

Why did Therese establish the Military Council? Wasn't it to liberate the Sarkaz from the rule of blood-line nobles and to establish a modern bureaucratic system modeled after modern states?

Ernst did essentially the same thing. He just had a slight advantage over Theresis.

Theresis needed to consider the opinions of the old royal court, and it was inevitable that power would be divided among the royal court forces within his military council, as evidenced by the existence of the Carrion King and the Blood Lord.

As an outsider, Ernst didn't need to care as much about the Sarkaz royal court's attitude as Theresis. The neighborhood committee he established wasn't for those who were from the royal court to join and take power; rather, it was for those who were in power to join, who might just happen to be from the royal court.

They may seem to have no difference, but their core is completely opposite.

In fact, Theresis did a good job. Apart from the Blood Lord and the Carrion King, the rest of the officers in the upper echelons of the Military Council were basically Theresis's confidants. Manfred was groomed by him, and Ersula came from the Scarred Market and had no connection with the royal court. In his ideal world, Theresia should be in his current position, responsible for coordinating the internal affairs of the Military Council, while he should be the one to wield the sword against external threats, working with Ascalon to deal with the Sarkaz.

Unfortunately, anything can happen in dreams. Theresa even told Theresis that she dreamt of the Shapeshifter horde and the Blood Lord fighting the Sea King.

Emengard naturally didn't consider the extent of Ernst and Therese's involvement; she simply nodded as if she understood, treating it as a simple household registration task.

Although she doesn't seem to be from Shelag, why would she keep a household registration file in Shelag?

The focus of the Shapeshifter group, however, was on another matter in Ernst's discourse.

"Are there many Sarkaz in Khelag?"

He asked, and Ernst nodded:

"A lot."

After opening up to the outside world, the flow of people into Shelag has always been quite large. Ernst may have only come into contact with a few Sarkaz people regularly, but in reality, the number of Sarkaz people flowing in as laborers at the lower levels was already quite significant.

According to the report submitted by He Dalei after his return, his "Sarkaz talent introduction plan" has been very effective. Apart from Mudstone, many literate Sarkaz who abhor war have come to Shelag.

The number of people has already exceeded one hundred.

Don't be fooled by the seemingly insignificant number of a hundred or so compared to the million-strong local population of Shelag. In reality, the majority remain silent, while a small minority speaking out can create a huge stir.

Ernst had just left Kazimierz, where the Grand Knight led a population of millions in Kavaleria. Yet, due to a small squad of a dozen or so infected individuals, the city faced its greatest crisis since its founding. Could the Sarkaz be less destructive than the infected?

It is imperative to establish a department to manage the ever-increasing number of Sarkaz!

But strangely, Kemilian seemed particularly curious about the "number and variety of Sarkaz," and he pressed for an answer once more:

Are there specific types and quantities?

Ernst gave him a strange look and replied:

"This is the problem we need to investigate."

"You care about this a lot?"

The shapeshifter swarm nodded decisively:

"I'm curious."

He also explained the reason:

"For the Sarkaz, gathering together is a rare sight. As far as I know, Regent Theresis of Londinium only has three Sarkaz courts gathered under his command. And it seems that Sherag has already surpassed that number?"

Ernst waved his hand.

The shapeshifter swarm frowned, somewhat displeased:

"Isn't it?"

Although they cannot enter classified locations, shapeshifters can still frequently visit places like construction sites.

There alone, he caught a banshee and a half-human, half-stone child. He had heard of the banshee Nasti before; this outcast from the banshee court had caused quite a stir in Columbia, arguably the most successful new generation of Sarkaz, and the shapeshifters had already gathered information about her.

And that son of earth and stone...

Who would have thought that the son of earth and stone that Therese had searched high and low for so long was actually making mortar on the construction site in Shelag, and was having a great time doing so?

That makes sense, though. Strictly speaking, what Theresis was searching for was the Royal Court of the Stonewing Demons (Children of Earth and Stone), and the little girl named "Mudrock" was a mixed-race person.

Moreover, this hybrid was clearly a rather mixed mix. The Shapeshifter syndicate remembered that Stonewing Demons were called Stonewing Demons because they actually had a pair of wings on their backs; the former "City Builder" Godu was one such example. But Mudrock, let alone a pair of wings capable of hovering near the ground, had a back so smooth it made one want to give her a cupping treatment!

This is also a drawback that the Military Council, which is highly integrated with the Royal Court, must face: the inconsistency in its internal guiding principles and standards leads them to subconsciously overlook forces that could potentially be recruited. This is not even something Theresis can control—if it were him, he would definitely recruit Mudrock, but the Blood Demon Lord, who reveres purebloods, would ignore such a "hybrid" who is worthless in his eyes, even if the Regent he respects is himself a hybrid.

There are two here alone.

Not to mention the lich he has already encountered, and the Cyclops royal court, which is his mission objective.

Four! Sherag has already surpassed the Military Council!

But Ernst shook his head:

"I don't know what you're talking about. This is Shelag, there is no royal court here."

He now understood why Emengard looked so guilty and embarrassed.

This Mr. Kermilian...? He's probably a conservative in the Lich King's court. He keeps talking about the court and comparing him to Theresis. He's definitely not a likable guy.

In Ernst's words: "Narrow-minded."

"If you say Nasti, she's an engineer who led the reconstruction of Tukarim and is a good friend of the people of Shelag. If you say Niyan, she's a proud worker who often helps her fellow villagers and is well-liked by everyone. If you say He Dalei, he's a teacher at Xinghuo Night School. The students were quite afraid of him at first, but later they thought he looked cool with his eye patch on. He's a qualified teacher now."

"Even if you're talking about Safar, the Balrog whom your lich demanded to communicate with, he is still a proud employee of the Sherag heating hub, burning himself for all of Sherag in this cold winter."

"Here, when we are at work, we are addressed by our job titles; after work, we all have only one identity—a Shelag person. Please do not misinterpret the unity of the Shelag people by using the narrow distinctions of the Sarkaz royal court."

The swarm of shapeshifters was taken aback.

In all his years, this was the first time he had ever been so openly confronted like this.

He wasn't angry; he just felt a bit curious.

Interesting, Nasti, Mudrock, Hedley, did they all "live" in this way in Sherag?

Did they abandon their Sarkaz identity? No, you can't say that. If they, and all the Sarkaz who came to Shelag, had abandoned their Sarkaz identity, then Ernst wouldn't need to establish a special "Sarkaz Residents' Committee" to manage them.

They still identify as Sarkaz, but at the same time, do they identify more with themselves? Or do they identify with Sherag?

No, something's still not right...

The shapeshifter swarm was puzzled, but couldn't quite put their finger on what was wrong.

But Ernst had neither the mood nor the time to explain further; he had another meeting to attend. He glanced at Emengard, who was practically on the verge of tears of "emotion," and said gently:

"You should go and rest first. I have other things to do. Hinterlea will take you to the hotel."

Emengard rubbed his eyes, which he dared not move, and nodded:

"What about the Balrog?"

"I'll arrange it."

Ernst Road,

"After registering with He Dalei, you can take your assistant Kemilian and wander around Shelag. The scenery here is quite nice."

"understand!"

Emengard quickly gave an "OK" sign, turned around, and tugged at the sleeves of the shapeshifter swarm:

"Um, shall we go?"

The shapeshifters snapped out of their daze and looked at Ernst. His poker face seemed unchanged, but Ernst could see a hint of satisfaction in his lifeless eyes.

"you are very funny."

he whispered.

Ernst did not answer, but simply stared at him in silence.

Emengard quickly tugged at his sleeve.

The shapeshifter swarm shook its head, seemingly in response to either Emengard or Ernst, and whispered:

"Don't worry, I won't do anything."

His transformation was indeed difficult to distinguish from the real thing, but the Cyclops was, in a way, his natural nemesis.

Those who read "destiny" can discern the truth from falsehood in the person before them at a glance, because "destiny" cannot deceive. It belongs to only one person and cannot be transformed or "stolen."

Therefore, he cannot replace Ernst.

Moreover, he was genuinely curious, and he wouldn't do anything until he had spent his endless life resolving the doubts in his heart.

Just as Ernst said, let's go take a look first.

Let's look at Sherag from a different perspective.

Chapter 471 I had no intention of controlling Kazdelnia at all.

Shelag, Tukarim, Shelag Government Office Building, Ernst's office cubicle.

It was a new day, and Ernst arrived at his office early in the morning.

There was a very important meeting this morning.

After quickly finishing the office lunch that Horhaya had prepared and placed on the table, Ernst tidied himself up and walked into the conference room, where the long table on both sides was already full of people.

Nastya sat in the first seat on the left, with her assistant, Mudrock, behind her, in the audience. Hadley sat in the first seat on the right, looking somewhat worried. He should have had an assistant too; he wondered if Ines had received his message.

Seated next to Hadley, second from the right, was Emengard. Clearly unprepared for the sudden summons, she was now looking around in surprise at the other attendees. Notably, her assistant, Chermilien, was absent; his whereabouts were unknown.

The reason she was willing to attend this meeting was quite simple: the tin man sitting opposite her, the second one from the left, was the Balrog, Safar, who single-handedly raised the temperature of the entire conference room.

Without a word, no one present could ignore his presence. The sheer pressure emanating from him was enough to instill fear in all the Sarkaz present.

"Living souls, a resurrected war, an eternal furnace, a blazing fire of punishment."

This is Nasti's assessment of the ancient being, fully demonstrating her rhetorical prowess, which she was proud of as a banshee.

However, what's somewhat intriguing is that behind Safar is a small "child"—Miloki of the Dulin tribe, who is nervously adjusting the various parameters of this brand-new Dulin 260 armor to prevent Safar from leaking fire and accidentally setting the chairs and stools in the conference room on fire.

The renovation cost a lot of money.

As soon as Ernst entered the room, everyone's attention immediately focused on another person, and they nodded to him.

Good morning, everyone. Have you eaten yet?

"Good morning." "Morning!" "Good morning, Ernst."

A brief greeting, and no one answered Ernst's question, "Have you eaten?"

This forced Ernst to abandon the idea of ​​having Hinterlea bring in the bread that had been prepared outside.

I guess nobody's hungry.

Ernst turned his head, pulled out a chair and sat down, glancing at the last person in the room who seemed out of place besides the Sarkaz, and greeted him:

Good morning, Dr. Kal'tsit!

"You look terrible? Didn't you sleep well last night?"

"Perhaps I slept too well last night, so I'm still not fully awake."

"Kelsey murmured. Ernst raised an eyebrow, pretending not to hear:

"what?"

Kal'tsit immediately snapped out of her daze and shook her head:

"nothing."

Ernst shrugged, turned around, tapped the table lightly, and introduced:

"Gentlemen, the purpose of this meeting should be clear to everyone—we are holding this meeting to address the growing Sarkaz problem in Shelag, with the aim of establishing a [Shelag Sarkaz Residents' Committee]. I hope everyone will express their opinions freely, have a full discussion, and give full play to your imaginative ideas. I will summarize these ideas after the meeting and then adopt them as appropriate."

After Ernst finished speaking, he gestured with his chin toward Kelsey and said:

"Dr. Kal'tsit, please close the door."

Closing the door signifies that what we are about to discuss is an internal matter and will not be disclosed to outsiders. Therefore, attendees can freely express their opinions without worrying about incurring any liability for their words.

When Ernst entered, he could have closed the door behind him, but closing it then would obviously not have had the desired effect; he was doing it for the Sarkaz people present.

As for why Kal'tsit was sent to close the door...

Because the old cat was sitting next to him, because the old cat was closest to the door, and because the old cat seemed a little absent-minded.

There's no particular reason for it; Ernst simply wanted to wake Kal'tsit up from her drowsiness.

But Kal'tsit was still somewhat distracted.

This left Ernst speechless. He pursed his lips, raised his voice slightly, and said with a hint of displeasure:

"Kal'tsit, do you think the meeting room door will close by itself?"